1992 Presidential Election

1992 Presidential Election: 

1992 Presidential Election By Viky, John, Brad

Context: 

Context Economy Shift from Foreign Policy to Domestic Policy Debate

Economy: 

Economy 1990-1991 Recession Middle Managers Laid Off Bush Seen As Out of Touch With Ordinary Families Too Focused on Foreign Affairs Bush Accepted A Tax Increase “Read my lips…No New Taxes”

Shift From Foreign to Domestic Policy: 

Shift From Foreign to Domestic Policy End of Cold War Malta Summit Bush and Gorbachev Declare US-Soviet Strategic Partnership End of Gulf War US Satisfied with the Way Operation Carried Out Public Perception of Failure to End the War Properly

Shift From Foreign to Domestic Policy: 

Shift From Foreign to Domestic Policy Domestic Policy Became the Primary Focus Reintroduced Divide Amongst Conservatives Regarding Social Issues Bush Was a Social and Fiscal Moderate

Democratic Primary: 

Democratic Primary Jerry Brown, Former California Governor Bill Clinton, Arkansas Governor Tom Harkin, Iowa Senator Paul Tsongas, Former Massachusetts Senator Bob Kerrey, Nebraska Senator Tom Laughlin, Actor/Director from California Eugene McCarthy, Former Minnesota Senator/1968 & 1972 Democratic Nominee Douglas Wilder, Virginia Governor Charles Woods, Alabama Millionaire Larry Agran, Mayor of Irvine

Democratic Primary: 

Democratic Primary Many Well Known Democrats Did Not Bother to Run Believed Bush to be Unbeatable in Wake of Gulf War

Democratic Nomination: 

Democratic Nomination Clinton Earns Name “Comeback Kid” Gennifer Flowers Reveals Adulterous Affair Bill and Hillary Go On 60 Minutes Loses New Hampshire by 8 points Supposed to Lose by at least Double Digits Labels Himself, “Comeback Kid” Builds Momentum Going Into Southern Primaries

Democratic Nomination: 

Democratic Nomination Jerry Brown Makes A Push Uses Grassroots Strategy via 1-800 Fundraising Technique Wins Colorado and Connecticut Still Not Enough to Win Democratic Nomination

Democratic Nomination: 

Democratic Nomination Results of Democratic Primary Bill Clinton 3372 Jerry Brown 596 Paul Tsongas 289

Republican Primary: 

Republican Primary George H.W. Bush Incumbent US President Pat Buchanan Reagan Speechwriter/Advisor

Results of the Republican Primary: 

Results of the Republican Primary George H.W. Bush: 2166 Patrick J. Buchanan: 18 Alan Keyes: 1 Former ambassador

Republican National Convention: 

Republican National Convention Bush Wins Nomination Easily Buchanan’s Successful Opposition Forced Bush to Move Further Right Adopts Socially Conservative Platform

A Bigger Problem: Pat Buchanan’s “Culture Wars”: 

A Bigger Problem: Pat Buchanan’s “Culture Wars” “The agenda [Bill] Clinton & [Hillary] Clinton would impose on America -- abortion on demand, a litmus test for the Supreme Court, homosexual rights, discrimination against religious schools, women in combat -- that's change, all right. But it is not the kind of change America wants. It is not the kind of change America needs. And it is not the kind of change we can tolerate in a nation that we still call God's country” Alienates Moderate Republicans

Other Party Nominations: 

Other Party Nominations Ross Perot, Texas Billionaire Runs Under Independent Party

The Candidates: 

The Candidates George H.W. Bush Incumbent President Republican Bill Clinton Governor of Arkansas Democrat Ross Perot Texas Business Man Independent

George H.W. Bush: 

Conservative Republican Platform: Lower Taxes Cuts in Government Spending Strong Foreign Policy Ran on Prior Experience George H.W. Bush Foreign Policy President’s best perceived strength was regarded as less important following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the relatively peaceful climate in the Middle East following the defeat of Iraq in the First Gulf War A Significant Problem: Bush alienated much of his conservative base by breaking his 1988 campaign pledge against raising taxes Infamous phrase at 1988 Republican National Convention “Read My Lips: No New Taxes” Sound bite cemented in the public consciousness

Bill Clinton - The Man of Change: 

“New Democrat” Higher taxes for the wealthy Increased spending on education, transportation, and communication Plan to provide national health care Bill Clinton pledged to conduct "the most ethical administration in the history of the Republic." Bill Clinton - The Man of Change

Henry Ross Perot: 

Henry Ross Perot Policies: Balancing the federal budget Firm pro-abortion stance Expansion on the war on drugs Ending outsourcing of jobs Belief in protectionism on trade Advocate of eDemocracy to increase citizen participation in public policy decision-making Increasing transparency and accountability Billionaire American Businessman Outsider candidate for the office of the President Warned of national debt Used own money to advertise

General Election: 

General Election Bush Ran on Experience and Trust Prior Military Experience Former CIA Director Handled Gulf War Efficiently Clinton Had No Military Experience Allegations of Draft Dodging Seen As Potentially Soft Went Back to Arkansas to Oversee Execution of Inmate

General Election: 

General Election Clinton Followed JFK’s Model of Running for Change Clinton Used Experience in Dealing with Social Issues As Governor Economic Growth/Job Creation Education Healthcare Represented Bush’s Primary Weaknesses in Policy Clinton Proposed Increased Government Spending Enhance Productivity and Growth Lower the Deficit

General Election: 

General Election Clinton Character Debate Allegations Smoked Pot But “Didn’t Inhale” Extra-Marital Affairs

General Election: 

General Election Perot Led in Polls through July Dropped Out Claimed Republican Operatives Were Trying to Disrupt His Daughter’s Wedding Re-Entered a Couple Weeks Later Damaged Image Lost Momentum

General Election: 

General Election Perot Constantly Reminded Voters of National Debt Took Away Crucial Moderate and Conservative Votes from Bush

Results: 

Results Clinton 43% of Popular Vote 370 Electoral Votes Bush 37.4% of Popular Vote 168 Electoral Votes Perot 18.9% of Popular Votes No Electoral Votes

Analysis: 

Analysis Clinton 1st Democratic President in 12 Years Democrats Take Control of Both Houses First Time Since Jimmy Carter Was Elected Clinton Wins With the Smallest Plurality in History Perot Garnered Largest Percentage of Popular Vote for 3rd Party Candidate in 80 Years

Analysis: 

Analysis Perot’s Success Perot Voters Would Have Been Split Evenly Between Bush and Clinton However, Bush Would Have Won More Electoral Votes Issue of Abortion Not Discussed Exit Polls Indicated Pro-Choice Republicans Defected from Bush